From Library Journal
Although most librarians will appreciate this "best of" collection, Ganzl's latest is a briefer, cheaper, and unfortunately less satisfying version of Ganzl's Book of the Musical Theater (LJ 4/15/88). Each entry reads like well-written liner notes in a compact disc. Song titles are interspersed in three- to four-page plot summaries, but production information is minimal. For plots, this work is more useful than Arthur Jackson's The Best Musicals (LJ 12/1/77), but patrons will almost always need to use another source (e.g., Stanley Green's Broadway Musicals Show by Show, Hal Leonard Bks., 1985) to gather details or critical analyses. Recommended for larger theater collections and wherever Ganzl's previous works are popular.?Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., Tex.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ganzl's Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre [RBB S 1 94], the 1995 Dartmouth Medal Honor Book, and Ganzl's Book of the Musical Theatre [RBB Je 15 89] both cover musical theater around the world. This new title is a spinoff highlighting 75 Broadway musicals, a few of which are too recent to have been included in his encyclopedia. Each entry gives full production information, casts, plot synopses, song titles, and notes about film versions. Each is liberally illustrated with photographs from the original production. An appendix listing cast recordings on compact disc is followed by an index of names and song titles. Public libraries that couldn't afford Ganzl's more comprehensive encyclopedia for their reference collections will want his latest title covering the shows of most interest to today's reader. Large public and academic libraries that have Ganzl's other works in reference will want to add this one to the circulating collection. Sandy Whiteley
